Ore., Calif., nurseries sue over S. Carolina law

Nurseries in Oregon and California have filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn a law they say unfairly blocks shipments of their plants to South Carolina.

The federal government already imposes strict regulations to limit the interstate spread of plant diseases.

Last year, however, the South Carolina Assembly approved a law limiting Oregon and California nursery operators from shipping to that state unless they comply with additional requirements.

The law, for example, requires individual Oregon nurseries to get on-site inspections and certificates of compliance from a state Agriculture Department inspector. The nurseries say that presents a logistical problem during the height of shipping season.

The suit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court. It was first reported by The Oregonian newspaper.